Sofa-bed



2Sheets-Sheet l.

Patented Nov. 15, 1887.

(No Model.)

C. E. BARBER.

- SOFA BED. No. 373,3294l` US ./m.

'illu sll ' (No Model.)

SOFA BED.

Patented Nov; 15,

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4ing sections.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

CHARLES E. BARBER, OF PLATTSBURG, NEW YORK.

SOFA-BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,329, dated November 15, 1887.

Application nieu April is, 18er.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BARBER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Plattsburg, in the county of Clinton, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sofa-Beds, of which the following is Vso full, clear, and exact description of a preferred means of carrying out my invention as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a sofa-bed which when extended shall have every appearance of a bed without in any way disclosing the fact that it is a folding structure which may be used as a sofa.

Another object of my invention is to construct a sofaAbed which when partially folded to resemble a sofa shall be so perfect an imitation of a sofa that there Will be nothing visible to indicate that it may-be unfolded and extended to form a bed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a folding bed and sofa combined, which shall be so constructed that there will be no liability of soiling the bed-clothing in opening and closing the folding section.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure lis an end view of my device folded to represent a sofa. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of part of the same. Fig. 3 is a rsection of Fig. 1, taken on the line X X of the former, showing a portion of one'end of the sofa and one of the fold- Fig. 4 is -a detail view of the center post, showing the recesses in the post into'which the folding section fits when the latter is extended to convert the device into a bed. Fig. 5 is a detail of a locking device for the legs or posts at the rear of the sofaf Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of my improved sofa-bed. Fig. 7 isa perspective of the same.

In each of the figures the center post is designated by the letter A. One side of this post is provided with a groove, a, which receives a corresponding tongue on the end of the arm A', and which also receives a corresponding tongue on the lower sill,'A2. These two cross-pieces A and A2, together with the front post, A3, form the permanent end section of the sofa. Opposite this permanent end section is a folding end section, B, which ishinged'to the post 'A in such a manner that when it is extended y the outer face of the folding end section is in Serial No. 234.666. (No model.)

direct alignment with the outer face of the permanent end section, and both extend parallel With the front face of the post A, but a slight distance back ofit. By this construction the permanent end section and the folding end section both appear, when the sofa is extended, as shown in Fig. 5, to extend from beneath the p'ost A. and the joints or crevice between the rear folding end section and of the center post, A,` are entirely concealed by the post itself when the body is extended. The front post, A3, of the permanent end section is also grooved at a to receive a corresponding tongue on the front ends of the cross-pieces which form the permanent end section.

The mattress O is made in the usual manner, and is hinged at its central portion to facilitate the folding and extension of the saine at will.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be observed that the hinge D is secured to the folding end section on the outer end of the section in such a manner that the extending folding end section Will entirely conceal the leaf of the hinge between the outer end of the folding section and the inner face of one side of the recesses in the post A. By this construction the screws, nails, or bolts which are used to fasten the hinges tothe folding end sections and to the posts are entirely concealed and are protected from coming in contact with the clothing or the mattress by the post and by t-he folding section. f

The top of the post A is provided with a cap 0r hood, E, which is formed integral with the post, or which may be of any ornamental design and secured to the top of the post in any desired manner. The object of this cap or hood is, first, to keep the bed-clothing from coming into contact with the hinge on the folding section. v.It also' serves a second purpose of an ornamental cap for the post,which serves to conceal the hinge and the folding end section when the device is converted into a sofa, as shown in Fig. 1.

The front face of the post A is provided with a shield, F, which extends over the front post, and which extends up back of the hinges on the 'folding section and entirely conceals thern'from view when the device is used as a sofa, as will be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 1. This I deem of prime importance, as

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there is something quite disagreeable about noticing that a sofa is designed to be used for a bed, and thereis afeeling of delicacy among persons who use this class of sofa-bed which makes it disagreeable to have the fact known that the sofa is a convertible article of furniture, and the exposing of the hinges at the ends of the sofa-bed now in use shows at once that the sofa is a folding bed; and my inven tion is designed to entirely conceal these hinges and the folding sections at the rear of the sofa.

'By reference to Fig. 5 it will be observed that the Yfolding end section is provided with a hook, G, which hooks into a recess, H, in a plate, I, on the back rail of the main portion ofthe folding sofa when the legis folded back to support the back of the sofa in the position shown in Fig. 1.

Then the device is extended, as shown in Fig.5, the free end hook, G, slides back toward the post A and fits into a corresponding recess, II, in the plate I.

rIhe bracket .I on the folding end section which supports the hook also serves as a partial support for the crosspiece Ii on the portion of the sofa which forms the back when it is elevated, as shown in Fig. 1. By this construction there is no danger of breaking the folding end section oft' from its hinges, and it is held both openand closed `by the same hook, and may be easily and quickly operated. rIhe crosspiece K on the back of the sofa also serves to make the back of the sofa a more complete imitation of a sofa than it would be if this cross-piece K were omitted. Each of the folding hinged end sections is recessed at o? a2 to allow the swinging end section to be swung around and straightened ont into alignment with the permanent end section when the device is converted into a sofa-bed.

Having now described my invention, what I believe to be new, and therefore desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a sofa-bed, thestationary and the folding end sections, constructed and hinged together, substantially as described, in combina' tion with an upright center post having a cap 'on its top and recessed, as shown and described, to forni a shield on the outer front face of the post, as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a sofa-bed, the upright center post provided with a shield on its outer front face, and also provided with a eapon its top which conceals the hinges from View from the top, in combination with the permanent end section which is secured at one side of the post and the folding end section which is secured to the opposite side of the post, substantially as described, whereby when the folding end section is extended to convert the device into a bed the crevice between the inner end of the folding end section and the inner end of the permanent end section is entirely concealed by the shield on the upright center' post, substantially as described.

3. In asofa-bed, thepermanentendseetions secured to the upright center post having a cap at the upper portion, in combination with the folding end sections, which are recessed at their inner upper ends, hinged to the permanent end sections, and the hinge which is secured to the folding and stationary end sections, substantially as described.

4. In a folding bed,the combination of the folding end section provided with a hook and a bracket. J, with the side rail provided with the plate I, having the recesses II and Il for receiving the hook when the folding end section is folded and extended, respectively, all constructed and combined-to operate substantially as described, whereby the hook on the folding end sections serves the double purpose of keeping the end sections in place when folded or extended, and the bracket on the folding end section serves the double purpose of supporting the cross piece K on the back of the sofa and of supporting the hook on the folding end section, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above as my invention I have hereunto set my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 13th day of April, 1887.

CHAS. E. BARBER. Vitnesscs:

EwnLL A. Dion, MARYIN A. CUs'rrs. 

